BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


C  O  R  RES  PONDENCE 


RELATING    TO    THE 


MASSACRE    OF    IMMIGRANTS 


BY    THE 


SNAKE  INDIANS, 


IN    AUGUST,  1854. 


SALEM,  OREGON : 

ASAHEL  BUSH,  TERRITORIAL  PRINTER. 
1854, 


CORRESPONDENCE 

Relating  to  the.  massacre  of  Immigrants  by  the  Snake  River 
Indians •,  in  August 9  1854. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Dec.  11,  1854.    > 

To  the  House,  of  Representatives  of  the  Territory  of  Oregon  : 

In  accordance  with  your  resolution  of  the  7th  instant,  requesting 
to  be  furnished  with  all  the  correspondence  and  information  in  my 
possession,  in  relation  to  the  massacre  of  a  portion  of  the  last  immi 
gration,  by  the  Snake  Indians,  on  the  20th  of  August  last,  I  have 
the  honor  to  transmit  the  accompanying  documents. 

GEO.  L.  CURRY. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ^ 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  18,  1854.    ) 
GEN.  JOSEPH  LANE, 

Delegate  to  Congress  fr 0711  Oregon  : 

DEAR  SIR,:— I  enclose,  herewith,  a  "  slip"  containing  an  authen 
tic  account  of  the  massacre  of  a  portion  of  the  immigration  to  this 
country,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Boise,  by  a  band  of  Snake  Indians. 
The  writer,  Mr.  Orlando  Humasori,  whom  you  well  know,  is  a  gen 
tleman  of  the  highest  integrity,  and  his  statement  may  be  relied  upon 
implicitly. 


The  news  of  this  distressing  occurrence,  has  occasioned  deep  feel 
ing  in  the  hearts  of  the  community.  A  U.  S.  force,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Haller,  of  the  4th  infantry,  and  one  company  of 
volunteers,  commanded  by  Nathan  Olney,  Esq.,  are  now  in  pursuit 
of  the  murderers,  having  engaged  in  the  expedition,  upon  the  recep 
tion  of  the  news  at  the  u  Dalles,"  with  a  promptitude  the  most  grat 
ifying  and  commendable.  It  is  very  much  to  be  hoped  that  it  may 
be  in  the  power  of  the  authorities  to  inflict  upon  the  perpetrators  of 
this  great  outrage,  the  punishment  they  so  richly  merit. 

You  will  do  me  a  personal  favor,  and  your  constituents  a  great 
service,  by  calling  the  attention  of  the  Department  of  War,  to  the 
fact  of  the  necessity  of  the  establishment  of  a  garrison,  or  military 
post,  at  or  near  "  Fort  Boise"  Were  it  only  kept  up  during  the 
summer  and  fall  months,  while  the  immigrants  are  on  the  road,  it 
would  be  of  incalculable  benefit  in  keeping  in  check  the  propensities 
of  the  Indians  to  robbery  and  violence. 

Indeed,  I,  conceive  it  to  be  a  matter  of  the  chiefest  importance  that 
our  government  should  give  more  attention  to  this  matter  of  protec 
tion  and  defence,  of  the  annual  emigration  towards  the  Pacific.  If 
it  be  not  practicable  to  afford  protection  over  the  entire  route,  let 
sufficient  forces  from  the  posts  at  the  extremes  of  the  territory,  be 
directed  to  make  summer  and  fall  excursions  into  the  heart  of  the 
Indian  country,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  immigrant  routes.  Are 
there  not/posts  within  the  settlements,  in  this  and  Washington  Ter 
ritories,  the  location  of  which  might  be  changed,  with  advantage,  to 
the  frontier !? 

My  dear  sir,  with  every  confidence  in  your  spirit  and  energy,  I 
leave  this  matter  in  your  hands  ;  press  it  with  all  earnestness  and 
force  upon  the  department,  and  if  need  be,  upon  Congress,.  The 
Jives  of  our  people  must  not  be  sacrificed,  when  it  is  in  the  power  of 
.the  government  .to  avert  i.t. 

Yours,  always  sincerely,, 

[  GEO.  L.  CUERY, 
Jlcting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


By  the  Acting  Governor  of  Oregon, 
A  PROCLAMATION  : 

Whereas,  the  Snake  tribe  of  Indians,  or  a  portion  of  them,  have 
•committed  a  most  unprecedented  outrage  upon  a  party  of  the  immi 
gration,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Boise — unarmed  men  have  been  shot 
down  ;  defenceless  women  and  harmless  children,  after  enduring  cap 
tivity,  have  been  most  barbarously  and  inhumanly  tortured  to  death  ; 


and  in  order  to  aid  in  protecting  future  immigration,  and  to  secure 
the  peace  of  the  frontier  settlements,  it  is  deemed  advisable  to  chas 
tise  the  perpetrators  of  this  high-handed  offence,  by  a  puni.shment 
commensurate  with  the  magnitude  of  their  crime  ;  and  whereas,  in 
this  view,  the  force  already  in  the  field  is  judged  to  be  inadequate  for 
complete  success, 

I  have  therefore  issued  this,  my  proclamation,  calling  for  the  en 
rollment,  for  six  months,  unless  sooner  discharged,  of  two  companies 
of  volunteers,  of  sixty  men  each,  to  be  mounted,  every  volunteer.- to- 
furnish  his  own  arms  and  amunition,  horse  and  equipments  ;  the  conir- 
panies  to  elect  their  own  officers,  and  report  to  Brigadier  General 
Nesmith,  on  or  before  the  25th  instant ;  one  company  to  rendezvous, 
at  Salem,  and  the  other  at  Oregon  Gity. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  Salem,  this  18th  day  of  Sept.,  1854. 

GEO.  L/  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  l$th,  1854.    ) 
JUDGE  OLNEY — 

My  Dear  Sir  : — Upon  the  receipt  of  the  information  .  which  you 
were  so  kind  as  to  forward  to  me,  and  which  is  the  first  and  all  that 
has  come  to  me  officially,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  to  call  out  a  force, 
and  have  issued  a  proclamation  to  that  end,  calling  for  two  compa 
nies,  of  sixty  men  each,  one  of  which  to  rendezvous  at  Oregon  City, 
and  the  other  at  Salem — to  elect  their  own  officers.  I  shall  place 
the  whole  force  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Nesmith,  and  give  it  all 
possible  dispatch.  I  am  astonished  to  find  myself  so  deceived  in  re 
lation  to  the  force  already  in  the  field.  Capt.  Brent  certainly  gave 
me  to  understand  that  there  were  sixty  U.  S.  troops  in  motion  for 
the  scene  of  difficulties,  and  that  your  brother's  company  would 
probably  be  augmented  to  the  same  number,  or  thereabout,  before 
reaching  the  point  for  action.  If  I  have  seemed  to  hesitate  about 
acting  in  this  matter,  it  is  alone  because  I  have  had  nothing,  until 
now,  that  would  seem  to  justify  my  doing  so. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  19M,  1854.    ) 

M.  M.  McCARVER,  Confry  Gen7 1.,  #c.,  £c.-- 

Dear  $iV  ." — By  my  hasty  note  of  this  morning,  you  are  already 
apprised  that  a  piv  j  for  two  companies  of 

mounted  volui  chastisement  of  the  In 

dians  who  perpoti  /ut  mas.:  rt    Boise." 

Each  company  will  be  enrolled  for  six  mouths,   mile-  dis 

charged,  and  will  consist  of  sixty  men,  rank  -iud  file,  to  take  the 
field  with  the  utmost  dispatch.  Gen.  Nesmith  will  have  command 
of  the  entire  volunteer  force,  and  will  be  directed  to  draw  upon  you 
for  the  necessary  subsistence. 

You  will  accordingly  be  pleased  to  take  such  steps  as  will  insure 
against  any  failure  of  the  necessary  supplies  that  will  be  required  to 
keep  the  command  in  active  operations. 

In  your  transactions  in  behalf  of  government,  you  will  rigidly 
study  economy,  making  your  contracts  on  fair  and  equitable  terms 
only.  Inculcate  the  same  upon  the  minds  of  all  who  may  be  enga 
ged  in  your  department,  in  order  that  Congress  and  the  general  gov 
ernment  may  approve  our  acts,  to  whom  we  have  to  look,  for  the 
means  to  defray  the  necessary  and  proper  expenses  of  our  under 
taking. 

Very  respectfully,  vour  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  20th,  1854.    ) 
GEN.  JOSEPH  LANE, 

Delegate,  in  Congress  for  Oregon  : 

DEAR  SIR: — Since  my  letter  to  you  of  the  morning  of  the  18th 
inst.,  I  have  received  information  of  an  official  character,  that  the 
force  already  in  the  field  is  quite  inadequate  for  the  apprehension 
or  punishment  of  the  perpetrators  of  the  unprecedented  outrage  ii 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  Boise.     I  have  therefore  issued  a  proclamatio 
calling  for  an  additional  force  of  two  companies  of  mounted  volun 
teers.     I  hope  to  have  this  reinforcement  in  motion  for  the  theater  of 
action  by  the  25th  inst. 


Other  acts  of  violence  have  been  committed  by  the  Indians  on  the 
other  trails  into  this  Territory.  A  company  of  volunteers  by  order 
of  Gov.  Davis,  made  an  excursion  on  the  south  route,  to  meet  the 
immigration  and  protect  it  from  apprehended  danger.  A  small  de 
tachment  of  this  command  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians 
(in  ambush  on  both  sides  of  the  road)  near  the  sink  of  Lost  river. 
On  the  middle  or  new  route,  coming  in,  as  you  remember,  from  Mal- 
heur  into  Lane  county,  a  Mr.  Turner's  party  was  attacked,  and  one 
man  was  killed — young  Stewart,  of  Corvallis.  I  cannot  but  deplore 
the  necessity  that  demands  the  enforcement  of  measures  involving 
such  an  expenditure  of  money.  But  I  beg  to  assure  you  that  the 
greatest  care  will  be  exercised,  and  the  most  rigid  economy  prac 
tised,  in  the  contracting  of  liabilities.  So  long  as  the  people  of 
Oregon  are  left  to  protect  themselves — to  punish  Indian  depreda 
tions  and  repel  Indian  hostilities  —  the  expenses  incident  thereto- 
ought  cheerfully  to  be  paid  by  Congress,  as  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
they  will  be. 

In  haste,  yours,  always  sincerely, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


[Extract  from  the  Journal  of  "  Executive  proceedings  of  the 
Territory  of  Oregon."} 

SEPTEMBER  20th,  1854. 

John  McCraken  appointed  and  commissioned  Assistant  Quarter 
Master  General. 

Geo.  K.  Shiel,  appointed  and  commissioned  Adjutant,  and  Victor 
Trevitt  appointed  and  commissioned  Quarter  Master  and  Commissary 
of  the  forces  called  into  service  by  proclamation,  against  the  Snak» 
Indians. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON, 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Sept.  2Qth,  1854 


.1 


M.  M.  McCARVER,  Com'ry  Gen'l.,  #c.,  fyc. — 

Dear  Sir  : — You  will  lose  no  time  in  sending  an  express  to  Van 
couver,  and  the  Dalles,  to  ascertain  what  amount  of  arms,  ammuni 
tion,  camp  equipage,  provisions  and  other  supplies  could  be  obtained 
at  these  posts,  together  with  what  facilities  they  will  afford  for  trans- 


poi-tation.  The  substance  of  your  information  you  will  please  trans 
mit  to  me  without  delay.  Perhaps  at  Vancouver  a  knowledge  might 
be  obtained  of  what  the  Dalles  could  furnish. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.   L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Sept.  20*A,  1854.    ) 

COL.  JOHN  McCRAKEN,  Jlsst.  Quartermaster  Gen?  I.,  fyc. — 

Dear  Sir  : — In  order  to  facilitate  the  operations  of  this  office,  in 
the  matter  of  sending  a  volunteer  force  to  act  against  the  Indians, 
who  perpetrated  the  recent  massacre  near  u  Fort  Boise,"  you  will 
proceed  with  all  dispatch  to  "  Fort  Vancouver,"  with  a  view  to  as 
certain  what  assistance  can  be  obtained  at  that  post,  or  Fort  Dalles, 
in  the  way  of  munitions  of  war,  camp  equipage,  and  other  supplies 
pertaining  to  your  department ;  also,  what  facilities,  if  any,  could  be 
afforded  for  transportation. 

You  will  exhibit  this  letter  to  Col.  Bonneville,  in  command  at 
Vancouver,  and,  if  necessary,  to  the  heads  of  the  respective  depart 
ments  there,  as  best  to  obtain  the  information  you  desire,  and  more 
particularly  the  chances  of  a  compliance  on  their  part,  to  a  requisi 
tion  from  this  office,  for  supplies,  and  aid  of  the  character  above  in 
dicated.  Very  respectfully,  yours,  &c., 

GEO.   L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


MOLALLA  GARDEN, 

2rf,  1854, 


GEO.  L.  CURRY,  Governor  of  Oregon  Territory  — 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  send  you  by  the  bearer  the  two  communications  I 
have  this  moment  received  by  express  sent  by  me  to  Fort  Vancouver, 
in  answer  to  my  letters  of  enquiry  as  to  what  assistance  could  bo 
relied  upon  by  the  Quarter  Master  and  Commissary's  department  of 
that  place,  in  aid  of  the  forces  now  raising  in  the  Willamet  valley, 
tinder  the  Governor's  proclamation.  You  will  preceive  from  their 


9 

tenor  that  nothing  can  be  relied  on  in  that  quarter,  unless  the  com- 
maiidiug  officer  at  the  Dalles  should  see  fit,  or  take  the  responsibility 
to  render  the  assistance  called  for. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  vour  oLd't  serv't, 

M.  M.  McCARVER, 
Cotn3ry9  Gen.  Oregon  Territory. 


FORT  VANCOUVER,  W.  T., 

Sept.  Zlst,  1854. 

GEM.  McCARVER,  Com'y  Gen.  of  Oregon  Territory — 

Sir:- — Your  two  notes  of  the  19th  of  Sept.  have  been  received. 

In  answer,  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  all  the  available  means 
of  transportation  of  my  department  are  now  in  use  for  the  volunteer 
and  regular  force  that  is  now  in  the  field,  or  will  be  shortly  required 
therefor. 

t  would  state  in  addition,  for  your  information,  that  a  report  of 
the  difficulties  above  has  been  made  to  the  Commanding  General  of 
this  Department,  and  his  orders  on  this  subject  are  hourly  expected. 

In  the  mean  time,  everything  has  been  done  by  the  commanding 
officer  at  the  Dalles  that  he  deemed  necessary  and  proper  under  the 
circumstances,  and  I  will  also  say  that  everything  has  been  done  by 
the  different  departments  for  supplying  the  troops  that  the  means  a*t 
their  command  allow. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  vour  most  obd't  serv't, 

THOS.  L.  BRENT, 
Capt.  and  Jlss't.  Qr.  Master. 


FORT  VANCOUVER,  W.  T.,          ) 
Sept.  21st,  1854.    $ 

To  M.  M.  MCCARVER,  Com'ry  GenH.,  of  0.  T.,  Oregon  City  : 

Sir  : — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  19th  instant,  just  received, 
I  have  the  honor  to  state,  that  Lt.  Col.  Bonneville,  the  commanding 
officer  of  this  post,  declines  issuing  any  order  for  furnishing  supplies 
••*•(>  the  companies  mentioned  in  your  communication.  He  directs  mo 
to  say,  that  he  has  official  informat  ion  from  the  commanding  officer 
at  the  Dalles,  that  no  more  troops  are  required  at  present.  If,  how 
ever,  the  Governor  of  Oregon  finds  it  necessary  to  raise  two  or  more 
9 


10 

companies,  and  wishes  them  furnished  with  provisions,  there  is  an 
abundance  of  supplies  at  Fort  Dalles,  which  the  commanding  officer 
there  is  competent  to  issue,  when  the  emergency  demands. 
I  am.  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

JNO.  WITHERS, 
2d  Lieut.  4th  Inft.,  rfct'g  fisst.  ConCy  Sub. 


ASST.  QUARTER  MASTER'S  OFFICE, 

Salem^  Oregon,  Sept.  22d,  1854. 

His  Excdlency^  GEO.  L.  GURRY  : 

Dear  Sir  : — In  obedience  to  your  instructions,  dated  Sept.  20th, 
to  proceed  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  endeavor  to  obtain  munitions  of 
war,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  an  interview 
with  Lieut.  Col.  Bonneville,  commander  of  the  post,  I  was  informed 
that  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  decline  co-operating  with  you  in  this 
matter,  for  the  following  reasons,  viz  : 

That  a  detachment  of  seventy  men  of  his  command,  had  been  sent 
to  Fort  Dalles,  which  was  deemed  by  the  commander  of  that  post,  a 
sufficient  additional  force,  in  the  present  emergency. 

That  the  depredations  had  been  committed  far  from  the  settle 
ments,  and  the  immigration  of  the  present  year  had  already  passed 
that  point ;  there  was  no  probability  of  a  repetition  of  them  ;  which 
obviated  the  necessity  of  a  force  being  placed  immediately  in  the 
field. 

That  he  was  of  the  opinion  that  winter  operations  in  that  region  T 
were  impracticable — that  the  government  troops  would  be  in  the  field 
early  in  the  Spring,  and  use  every  means  possible,  to  secure  and 
punish  the  offenders. 

That  Gen.  Wool,  commander  of  the  Pacific  Division,  was  hourly 
expected  ;  the  whole  matter  would  be  laid  before  him  on  his  arrival^ 
and  your  Excellency  immediately  advised  of  his  action  thereon. 

That  upon  the  eve  of  the  arrival  of  his  superior  officer,  he  should 
not  feel  justified  in  furnishing  the  supplies  asked  for,  especially  as 
he  doubted  the  necessity  of  the  movement,  in  the  present  state  of 
affairs  ;  that  if  greater  force  was  deemed  necessary,  he  had  no  doubt 
Gen.  Wool  would  order  two  companies  of  dragoons  from  Fort  Lane,, 
upon  this  service. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted,  by 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  McCRAKEN, 
*j1ssi.  Quarter  Master  General** 


> 

54.    ) 


11 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON, 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Sept.  22d,  1854 

J.  W.  NE SMITH,  Brigadier  General, 
E.  M.  BARNUM,  Adjutant  General, 
JOHN  MCCRACKEN,  *tfss'/  Quarter  Master  General, 

Gentlemen : — Before  putting  in  motion  any  portion  of  the  expedition 
which  I  desire  to  have  undertaken  towards  a  chastisement  of  the  In 
dians  who  perpetrated  the  massacre  near   Fort  Boise,  I   feel  it   my 
duty  to  propound  to  you  the  subjoined  questions  ;  to  which  you  will 
have  the  kindness  to  return  promptly,  a  written  answer. 
Is  a  winter  campaign  practicable  against  these  Indians  ? 
Would  there  be  time  to  strike  an  effective  blow  before  winter  1 
In  view  of  the  U.  S.  Military  department   declining  to   furnish 
subsistence,  munitions  of  war,  &c.,.  towards  fitting  out  the  expedi 
tion,  is  it  probable  that  the  people  at  large  could  supply  these  wants 
in  time  to  get  them  into  the  interior  before  winter  1 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Jlcting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


SALEM,  0.  T.,  SEPT.  22d,  1854. 
To  His  Excellency  GEO.  L.  CURRY,  Jlcting  Governor  of  Oregon  : 

SIR  : — In  reply  to  the  interrogations  contained  in  your  note  of  this 
morning,  requesting  a  written  opinion  on  the  subject  of  the  contem 
plated  campaign  against  the  Snake  Indians  ;  I  have  to  state,  that 
however  desirable  it  may  be  to  punish  the  perpetrators  of  the  recent 
massacre  of  our  people,  I  do  not  consider  it  practicable  to  accom 
plish  that  object  by  making  a  winter  campaign,  with  the  limited  re 
sources  at  the  command  of  the  government.  My  opinion  in  the  matter 
is  based  upon  my  knowledge  of  the  country,  occupied  by  the  Snake 
tribe,  and  my  experience  in  Indian  warfare,  together  with  such  relia 
ble  information  as  I  have  been  able  to  derive  from  Messrs.  Craigie 
and  Johnson,  who  have  resided  at  Fort  Boise  for  many  years.  I 
understand  that  these  Indians,  who  have  for  the  last  few  years  mani 
fested  a  decidedly  hostile  attitude  towards  the  emigration,  are  pre 
datory  tribes,  occupying  the  country  from  the  Grand  Ronde  to  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Hall,  a  distance  of  some  four  hundred  miles,  and 
that  their  country  extends  far  to  the  north  and  south  of  the  emigrant 
trail;  and  that  those  tribes  are  divided  into  small  bands  scattered 


12 

V... 

over  different  portions  of  this  immense  region ;  that  they  nro  possess 
ed  of  but  little  stock,  or  property  of  any  kind,  which  would  embarass 
their  speedy  mov&sJents  ;  their  principle  reliance  for  subsistence  be 
ing  upon  the  fish  obtained  from  the  Columbia  river  during  the  sum 
mer  months,  which  are  dried  and  "  cached  "  away  for  winter  uses. 

The  country  inhabited  by  those  tribes  being  beyond  the  Blue 
mountains,  and  being  a  sterile,  arid  region,  affords  nothing  upon 
which  a  command  could  subsist  during  the  whiter  months,  besides  the 
the  elevation  is  so  great  that  snow  falls  to  sufficient  depth,  during 
ordinary  winters,  to  render  it  impossible  to  operate  against  those 
tribes  with  any  prospect  of  success,  when  we  take  into  consideration 
in  connection  with  those  disadvantages  the  great  rigor  of  the  climate, 
tfie  cold  being  sufficiently  intense  as  frequently  to  form  ice  from  three 
to  four  feet  thick,  we  must  readily  come  to  the  conclusion,  as  to  what 
the  effect  would  be  upon  a  body  of  hastily  raised  and  illy  equipped 
volunteers,  destitute  as  they  must  be  of  all  the  supplies  and  appli 
ances,  which  tend  and  are  necessary  to  render  an  army  effective  in  the 
field.  In  addition  to  the  other  serious  obstacles  calculated  to  em 
barass  a  winter  campaign  beyond  the  Blue  mountains,  the  impor 
tant  fact  should  not  be  overlooked,  that  before  a  force  can  reach  the 
.enemy's  -country  they  will  be  compelled  to  perform  a  march  of  six 
hundred  miles  over  an  uninhabited  desert  country,  generally  destitute 
of  grass  at  this  season  of  the  year,  rendering  it  certain  that,  when 
arrived  at  the  point  of  destined  operations,  what  animals  should  then 
be  alive  would  be  entirely  insufficient  for  the  arduous  and  continued 
exertions  necessary  to  overtake  and  punish  a  scattered  and  flying 
enemy.  I  apprehend  that  an  expedition  against  those  Indians  would 
be  like  previous  expeditions  against  the  Indians  of  this  country,  in 
which  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  the  difficulty  consists  more  in 
finding  than  in  the  killing. 

I  am  aware  that  many  persons  honestly  entertain  the  opinion  that 
the  winter  is  the  most  suitable  time  to  undertake  campaigns  against 
the  Indians — but  with  all  deference  to  such,  I  am  compelled  to  say 
that  my  own  observations  have  led  me  to  a  different  conclusion.  It 
is  a  fact,  in  no  wise  disparaging  to  white  men,  that  the  habits  of  the 
Indians  .are  such,  as  to  enable  them  to  subsist  on  less  food,  carry  on 
war  with  less  means,  and  in  a  mountain  country,  keep  entirely  be 
yond  the  reach  of  the  white-  man. 

From  what  information  I  have  been  able  to  obtain,  and  consider 
ing  all  the  disadvantages  under  which  we  must  labor,  I  believe  the 
season  is  too  far  advanced  to  organize  a  force,  and  reach  the  enemy's 
country,  in  time  to  render  any  important  service  before  winter  sets 
in.  The  contemplated  movements  partake  of  the  character  of  an 
offensive  war,  in  which  case  it  is  desirable  to  ascertain  that  our  re 
sources  are  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  to  devise  means  to  do  as 
much  harm,  as  practicable,  to  the  enemy,  with  as  little  as  possible 
to  ourselves.  I  admit,  that  a  defensive  war  admits  of  no  such  pru 
dential  considerations. 

fn  addition  to  the  obstacles  which  are   naturally  opposed  to  tha 


13 

contemplated  movement,  it  would  be  well  to  consider  the  necessity 
of  the  case — that  the  Indians  have  committed  the  revolting  outrages 
charged,  no  one  denies,  and  that  there  being  no  settlements,  or  emi 
grants  within  their  reach,  it  would  appear  that  their  power  to  do 
further  mischief,  is,  for  the  present,  destroyed. 

The  officers  of  the  army,  I  understand,  have  forwarded  what 're 
lief  they  deem  necessary,  for  the  present  emergency,  and  decline 
making  a  requisition  for  a  greater  force,  or  contributing  to  the  sup 
port  of  those  who  may  be  called  out.  They  being  on  the  spot,  and 
having  facilities  for  knowing  all  the  facts,  entitles  their  judgment  to 
respect. 

Those  Indians  being  unable  to  permanently  abandon  their  country, 
or  to  subsist  without  the  benefit  of  their  fisheries,  it  appears  to  me 
that  the  whole  question  of  their  chastisement  resolves  itself  into  the 
question  as  to  the  proper  time  to  undertake  it  with  a  probability  of 
succes^.  My  opinion  is,  that  a  campaign  commenced  early  in  the 
spring,  and  continued  through  the  summer,  would,  in  addition  to 
protecting  the  immigration,  accomplish  more,  with  less  suffering  and 
expense,  and  probability  of  defeat,  than  could  possibly  result  from 
a  winter  campaign.  Without  going  into  details,  I  am  free  to  express 
it  as  my  opinion,  that  with  the  p'eserit  resources  of  the  territory, 
and  in  the  absence  of  any  ready  money,  it  would  be  impossible  to 
concentrate  a  sufficient  quantity  cf  supplies  at  any  point  east  of  the 
Blue  Mountains,  on  which  to  subsist  an  efficient  command  during  the 
winter.  For  these  reasons,  and  others  which  I  have  not  time,  at 
present  to  urge,  1  should  .most  urhesitatingly  advise  against  the  or 
dering  forward  a  volunteer  force,  under  existing  circumstances. 
.  Doubtless  when  the  whole  question,  and  the  reasons  which  have 
induced  you  to  countermand  your  proclamation,  is  properly  under 
stood  by  the  gallant  men  who  have  come  forward,  and  offered  their 
personal  service  with  such  alacrity,  they  will  be  satisfied  with  your 
decision,  and  others  will  have  littb  reason  to  complain. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

J.  W.  NESMITH, 
Brigadier  General  of  Militia. 


To  His  Excellency,  GEO.  L.  CURRY,  Jlcting  Governor  of  Oregon  : 

Sir  : — I  concur  in  the  above  opinions,  as  gjpen  °J  Brig.  General 
Nesmith,  to  the  first  and  second  interrogatories  of  your  communica 
tion.  Very  respectfullv,  yours, 

.      E.  M.  BARNUM. 

SALEM,  Sept.  23d,    1854. 


1,4 

By  the  Acting  Governor  of  Oregon^ 
A  PROCLAMATION  : 

Whereas,  a  proclamation  was  made  on  the  18th  instant,  authori 
zing  the  enrollment  of  two  companies  of  volunteers,  for  the  purpose 
of  the  chastisement  of  the  Indians  who  perpetrated  the  recent  mel 
ancholy  outrage  near 'Fort  Boise — and  the  U.  S.  military  authori 
ties  having  put  a  force  in  the  field,  which  they  deem  sufficient,  and 
having  declined  to  co-operate  with  the  expedition,  even  by  furnishing 
it  with  the  necessary  munitions  of  war  for  its  equipment,  and  be 
lieving  that  these  essentials  cannot  be  procured,  nor  subsistence  and 
other  supplies  furnished  from  1|ie  settlements  at  large,  in  time  to 
enable  the  expedition  to  strike  ai\  effective  ;blow  before  winter  will 
have  set  in,  or  to  get  a  sufficient  quantity  of  them  transported  to  so 
remote  a  point  in  the  interior,  as  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  to  make 
them  available  for  a  winter  campaign  ; 

This  proclamation  is  therefore  issued,  while  acknowledging  the 
gallantry  of  those  who  responded  so  promptly  to  the  call,  that  the 
said  enrollment  may  be  countermanded,  with  the  hope  that  unless 
the  massacre  shall  have  been  avenged  by  the  forces  already  out,  the 
Assembly,  at  the  ensuing  session,  vill  take  measures  to  warrant  the 
undertaking  so  soon  as  winter  shal,  have  passed. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  Salem,  this  22d  day  of  September,  1854. 

GEO.  L.  CURRY,  . 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITDRY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Sept.  22,  1854.    ) 

M.  M.  CARVER,  Commissary  General,  fyc.  : 

Dear  Sir  :--!  have  received  to-day  information  of  an  official  char 
acter  in  substance  of  a^Jeclmation  on  the  part  of  the  military  repre 
sentatives  of  the  U.  S.;; at  Vancouver,  to  co-operate  with,  or  aid  me 
in  any  manner  in  fitting  out  an  expedition  to  punish  the  prcpetrators 
of  the  recent  massacre  near  Fort  Boise. 

Beside  this  I  learn  that  there  is  a  much  larger  force  already  order 
ed  out  by  Col.  Bonneville  than  I  had  supposed  ;  sufficient,  at  least, 
to  strike  a  decisive  blow.  Without  this  co-operation  I  find  it  next 
to  impossible  to  get  the  expedition  in  the  field  in  a  condition,  and  sit 
jiation  to  be  sufficient  in  a  winter  campaign. 

You  will  therefore  immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  this  counter- 


15 

mand  so  far  as  may  be  in  jour  power,  the  previous  action  of  your- 
Department.     My  only  instruction  to  you  under  the  circumstances 
is  to  do  the  best  for  the  Territory  that  you  can   in  the  rescinding  of 
contracts,  &e. 

Very  respectfully  your  ob't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
Salem,  Sept.  22,  1854.    ) 

COL.   W.  A.  CASON,   Oregon  City  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Upon  the  receipt  of  this,  you  will  take  steps  to  stay 
any  further  enrollment  of  volunteers  for  the  expedition  to  'the  Snake 
country.  I  find  so  many  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  successful  ac 
complishment  of  the  object  of  the  undertaking,  that  necessity,  not 
choice,  obliges  me  to  give  it  up  for  the  present.  A  refusal  on  the 
part  of  the  military,  at  Vancouver,  to  co-operate  Avith  me  in  any 
way,  towards  putting  the  expedition  in  the  field  in  an  effectual  man 
ner,  is  a  most  important  obstacle,  as  the  munitions  of  war  cannot 
be  obtained  in  our  midst,  until  it  would  be  too  late  to  strike  an  effec 
tive  blow  before  the  setting  in  of  winter.  I  could  not  think  of  put 
ting  a  force  in  the  interior,  to  remain  during  the  winter,. without 
being,  in  all  respects,  in  a  condition  and  situation  proper  under  the 
circumstances. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY. 
Meting   Governor  of  Oregon. 


COMMISSARY'S  OFFICE,  > 

OREGON  "CiTY,  O.  T., 

Sept.  24^,  1854.    ) 

Dear  Sir: — I  received  your  communication  of  the  22d  instant, 
informing  me  that  in  consequence  of  the  refusal  of  the  United  States 
military  officers,  at  Vancouver,  to  co-operate  with  you  in  chastising 
the  Indians  engaged  in  the  recent  massacre  near  Fort  Boise,  and  for 
other  reasons,  you  have  deemed  it  best  to  countermand  your  procla 
mation  of  the  18th  instant,  calling  out  the  Oregon  militia,  &c.,  £c.f 


10 

and  instructing  me,  as  far  as  it  was  compatible  with  the  interests  of 
Oregon,  and  those  concerned,  to  countermand  the  previous  contracts 
made -by  the  Commissary  Department  of  Oregon  Territory,  &c. 

Fortunately  for  the  interests  of  the  territory,  after  the  reception 
of  the  two  communications  by  me,  (arid  which  I  immediately  for 
warded  for  your  inspection  on  the  22d  instant),  one  from  the  acti.ig 
commissary,  and  the  other  from  the  acting  quartermaster  at  Fore 
Vancouver,  declining  to  furnish  assistance,  and  the  dash  of  cold 
water  thrown  upon  your  very  laudable  undertaking,  through  themy 
by  the  commanding  officer  at  that  place,  I  had  anticipated  a  reaction 
on  your  part,  and  so  arranged  tiie  conditions  of  most  of  my  contracts 
as  to  put  it  in  my  power  to  complete  or  annul  them  on  the  first  of  the 
ensuing  week,  so  as  to  be  in  time  to  meet  the  immediate  demands  on, 
this  department,  should  that  not  occur.  I  had,  however,  ascertained 
that  sufficient  supplies  for  the  subsistence  of  the  two  companies 
called  into  service  by  you,  could  have  been  furnished  in  time,  and 
tolerably  fair  terms,  by  active  operations  through  the  commissary 
department  of  Oregon  Territory.  I  had,  however,  purchased  with 
out  condition,  one  hundred  head  of  sheep,  of  Dr.  Toimie,  at  six  dol 
lars  per  head.  This  contract  he  declines  to  rescind,  without  paying 
him  one  hundred  dollars  damage.  This  I  declined,  believing  that 
they  could  be  sold  to  the  butcher  here,  for  nearly  the  'amount  paid, 
as  they  are  all  fat  wethers.  One  of  them  I  have  already  slaughtered 
for  the  use  of  this  department.  I  had  also  purchased,  on  the  same 
conditions,  one  horse,  bridle  and  saddle,  for  ninety-five  dollars,  and 
thirty  bushel  of  oats,  delivered  at  one  dollar  per  bushel ;  hired  four 
men  "to  make  contracts  for  supplies,  and  the  same  number  of  horses  ; 
one  of  the  men  is  yet  absent  on  that  business,  though  I  have  taken 
measures  to  have  him  re-called.  This,  with  contingent  expenses  in 
curred  by  me,  is  all  that  has  not  been  rescinded,  unless  Mr.  Sifers, 
now  out,  has  made  contracts  that  will  require  my  assistance  in  coun 
termanding. 

I  will  at  a  proper  time  make  out  and  forward  you  a  detailed  ac 
count  of  all  the  liabilities  of  the  Territor}"  by  this  Department.  With 
regard  to  countermanding  the  call  for  additional  forces  from  the  citi 
zens  of  Oregon  Territory,  I  will  not  express  an  opinion,  as  the  respon 
sibility  docs  not  rest  upon  me.  But  I  cannot  divest  myself  of  the 
general  opinion  that  prevails  in  this  community,  of  the  entire  incorn- 
petency  of  the  fragments  of  companies  of  United  States  Infantry  now 
stationed  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  particularly  in  Oregon  Territory, 
to  do  justice  to  the  injuries  and  insults  now  offered  to  humanity  in  gen 
eral,  and  to  this  community  in  particular.  These  inhuman  butch 
eries  were  made  upon  our  citizens,  and  in  our  Territory,  upon  persons 
who  have  chosen  their  homes  amongst  us,  and  the  protection  of  our 
municipal  regulations,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Federal  Government. 
We  have  a  right  to  claim  protection  from  the  General  Govern 
ment  ;  but  the  laws  of  God  as  well^s  those  of  nature,  forbids  that 
we  should  stand  idly  gazing  upon  such  scenes  of  horror  with  our  hands 
in  fetters  with  a  consciousness  at  the  same  time  of  the  utter  incapaci- 


ty  or  inability  of  those  in  the  field  to  bring  it  to  a  spe^d?  and  satis 
factory  termination.  There  is  a  fearful  responsibility  in  the  defeat 
of  this  expedition,  that  rests  somewhere,  my  earnest  desire  is  that  it 
may  not  fall  upon  the  head  of  one  who  has  given  so  many  proofs  of 
his  dcvotedness  to  the  interests  of  this  community. 

I  am  very  respectfully  vour  ob't -sorv't, 

Ml  M.  McCARVER, 
Commissary  Gejil  Oregon  Militia' 
GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Aci.ng  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  25th,  1854.    ) 

THE   PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  : — 

Sir:- -I  have  the  honor  to  state,  that  on  the  20th  ultimo,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Boise,  a  post  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  situ 
ate  some  six  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  this  place,  and  four  hundred 
and  fifty  from  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia  river,  a  party  of  the  im 
migration,  numbering  between  twenty  and  thirty  souls,  were  mas  sa 
cred  by  the  We-net  Indians,  one  of  the  numerous  bands  of  the  Sho- 
shpnes  or  Snake  tribe.  The  women,  after  suffering  the  most  revolting 
treatment,  were  killed  by  torture,  and  the  little  children  of  the  party 
burned  to  death.  The  first  version  received  of  this  melancholy  news, 
was,  in  substance,  that  the  men  of  the  company  had  been  shot  down, 
while  engaged  in  driving  their  teams,  unarmed  and  unsuspicious  of 
danger. 

The  receipt  of  such  news  at  Fort  Dalles,  caused  the  officer  in 
charge  of  that  post  to  despatch  a  small  force  of  regular  troops,  with 
a  company  of  immigrants  and  citizens  of  that  vicinity ?  commanded 
by  Nathan  Olney,  Esq.,  consisting  of  thirty-seven  men,  who  volun 
teered  for  the  service,  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  Almost  simulta 
neous,  I  received  the  intelligence  of  the  massacre  of  the  women  and 
childen,  and  information  from  Mr.  Olney?  desiring  assistance,  I  there 
fore  issued  a  proclamation  on  the  18th  instant,  calling  for  the  en 
rollment  of  two  companies  of  volunteers. 

Public  feeling  had  been  so  intensely  excited  by  this  most  unprece 
dented  outrage,  that.  I  should  have  been  deemed  indifierent  to  the 
interests  of  the  territory,  and  the  discharge  of  my  duty,  had  I  taken 
no  official  action  towards  the  apprehension,  or  punishment,  of  the 
perpetrators  of  the  outrage,  and  I  should  have  felt  myself  derelict 
to  the  responsibilities  resting  upon  me. 

Understanding  that  there   was  an  abundance  of  subsistence,  mu- 


18 

iritions  of  war,  camp  equipage,  and  all  the  requisites  for  the  outfit 
of  such  an  expedition  at  Fort  Dalles,  it  was  my  hope  that  through 
these  means,  I  would  be  enabled  to  facilitate  the  undertaking^  so  that 
the  force  could  have  gone  forward  with  all  possible  despatch,  and 
accomplished  effective  service  before  the  setting  in  of  winter. 

I  regret  to  state,  however,  that  the  chief  in  command,  at  Vancou 
ver,  declined  the  co-operation  I  had  so  certainly  expected,  even  to 
the  supplying  the  munitions  of  war  essential  to  the  equipment  of  the 
expedition — alledging,  among  other  reasons,  that  it  was  not  an  emer 
gency  that  warranted  such  an  enterprise — that  the  force  already  out 
was  thought  to  be  quite  adequate  for  the  occasion,  &c.,  &c. 

No  doubt  the  supplies  necessary — subsistence,  ammunition,  means- 
of  transportation,  &c.,  could  have  been  obtained,  in  time,  from  the 
settlements  at  large,  though  not  soon  enough,  I  was  apprehensive,  to* 
get  the  expedition,  in  an  efficient  condition,  across  the  Blue  Moun 
tains  before  the  period  would  have  elapsed  beyond  which,  travel  over 
these  mountains  would  be  extremely  hazardous,  if  not  utterly  im 
practicable.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  was  constrained  to  aban 
don  the  undertaking,  and  the  enrollment,  which  had  been  responded 
to  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  was  countermanded  on  the  23d  inst., 
by  proclamation. 

I  feel  it  my  duty  to  observe  that  Indian  depredation  upon  life  and 
property,  has  also  been  committed,  the  present  season,  upon  the1 
other  two  immigrant  trails  conducting  into  this  valley,  and  respect 
fully  to  submit  whether  the  melancholly  occurrences,  that  have  be 
fallen  the  immigration  of  the  present  year,  do  not  demonstrate  the* 
absolute  necessity  of  the  establishment  of  a  military  post  at  some 
point  near  Fort  Boise,  were  it  only  to  be  kept  up  during  the  clement 
seasons  of  the  year.  If  this  is  judged  to  be  unadvisable,  it  would 
be  well  to  have  detachments  from  the  posts  at  the  northern  and 
southern  extremes  of  the  territory,  make  excursion  into  the  interior^ 
along  the  immigrant  road,  as  far  as  Fort  Hall,  at  least,  while  the 
immigrants  are  en  route,  which  would  have  a  most  salutary  eifect 
upon  the  Indians,  and  a  very  great  tendency  to  check  their  disposi 
tion  to  acts  of  violence  and  depredation. 

It  is  very  sincerely  to  be  regretted,  that  the  troops  at  Forts  Van 
couver  and  Dalles,  instead  of  the  inactive  life  they  have  been  accus 
tomed  to,  had  not  made  such  excursions  the  present  year,  which  it 
is  quite  probable  would  have  saved  us  from  the  appalling  calamity 
which  has  so  shocked  our  whole  community. 

I  beg  to  remark,  that  the  people  of  this  territory  do  not  appear  to 
be  satisfied  that  the  military  force  now  in  the  field,  is  by  any  means 
adequate  to  the  emergency,  nor  calculated  to  inflict  a  punishment 
upon  our  Indian  enemies,  commensurate  with  the  magnitude  of  theif 
crime.  Its  character,  at  leasty  does  not  suggest  such  a  gratifying 
belief.  With  the  exception  of  the  few  volunteers  with  it,  the1  de 
tachment  is  composed  of  men  unacquainted  with  equestrian  exercises, 
altogether  unsuited  to  the  service  in  which  they  are  engaged,  as  are 
the  entire  forces  of  Forts  Vancouver  and  Dalles,  unadaptcd  to  effi- 


19 

cient  operations  against  Indians — consisting,  as  they  do,  of  artillery 
and  infantry  detachments — troops  of  a  character  more  proper  to 
protect  a  commercial  sea-board,  than  an  extensive  Indian  frontier. 

If  furnished  with  the  requisite  munitions  of  war,  the  people  of 
Oregon  are  competent  to  protect  themselves  from  Indian  aggression, 
nor  do  they  wish  the  general  government  to  maintain  military  posts 
within  their  settlements,  rather  than  on  the  frontier,  or  in  the  inte 
rior  of  the  Indian  country,  where  such  establishments  are  eminently 
needed,  and  where  incalculable  benefit  would  be  sure  to  result  from 
the  moral  effect  alone  of  their  existence. 

I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  herewith,  copies  of  the  proclamations 
alluded  to,  and  such  correspondence  as  properly  pertain  to  this  com 
munication. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Jicting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Salem,  Sept.  25* A,  1854.    ) 

M.  M.  MCCARVER,  Com'ry  Gen'L,  #c.,  #c.— 

Dear  Sir: — I  take  this  opportunity  to  tender  you  my  thanks,  for 
the  very  prompt  assistance  you  have  rendered  me,  in  the  discharge 
of  your  official  duties.  You  will  permit  me  to  say  that  the  prompt 
ness,  energy  and  zeal  displayed  by  you,  in  our  endeavor  to  get  an 
efficient  force  in  the  field,  to  chastise  the  perpetrators  of  the  mas 
sacre  near  Fort  Boise,  redound  highly  to  your  credit,  and  it  affords 
me  pleasure  to  state,  that  it  was  from  no  want  of  action  and  ardent 
co-operation  on  your  part,  at  least,  that  the  said  expedition  failed  to 
be  organized. 

In  due  course  of  time,  you  will  please  make  a  report  of  your  offi 
cial  transactions  to  this  office,  to  be  presented,  with  other  official 
matter  pertaining  to  the  subject,  to  the  Assembly,  at  its  ensuing 
session,  if  desired  by  them. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


FORT  VANCOUVER,          ) 
Sept.  24M,  1854.    J 

Sir  : — Participating  most  deeply  in  the  universal  horror, 
occasioned  by  the  inhuman  massacre  of  our  citizens,  on  Snake  river, 
upon  the  receipt  of  your  requisition  for  two  companies,  by  the  mail 
of  Friday  last,  I  immediately  left  home  for  this  post,  in  order  to 
learn  exactly,  what  had  been  done,  and  what  was  contemplated,  for 
the  protection  of  the  immigration  still  in  the  mountains,  and  exposed 
to  the  same  barbarities.  Upon  arrival  at  the  post,  I  learned  from 
the  officers  that  all  the  force  deemed  necessary  by  the  officer  in  com 
mand  at  the  Dalles,  (Major  Raines),  had  been  promptly  forwarded 
from  this  post,  with  assurance  from  the  veteran  Colonel  in  command 
here,  (Bonneville),  that  himself,  with  all  the  officers  and  men,  yet 
remaining  at  Vancouver,  stood  ready,  upon  the  first  intimation  of 
necessity  from  Major  Raines,  to  proceed  to  the  exposed  region.  Col. 
Bonneville  very  frankly  exhibited  to  me  the  correspondence  of  Com 
missary  General  McCarver,  and  Assistant  Quartermaster  McCraken, 
in  relation  to  supplies  from  this  post,  addressed  to  Capt.  T.  L. 
Brent,  Acting  Quartermaster  of  the  post,  and  responded  to  by  that 
officer.  Col.  Bonneville  regrets  that  Capt.  Brent  did  not  furnish, 
with  his  own  reply,  a  copy  of  his,  Col.  Bonneville's,  letter  to  Capt. 
Brent,  setting  forth  the  reasons  why  supplies  called  for  could  not  be 
furnished,  a  copy  of  which  letter,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  now, 
that  there  maybe  no  misunderstanding  in  regard  to  the  matter. 
This  letter  will  show  you  that  the  Colonel  has  not  only  acted  most 
promptly,  but  that  he  has  done  all  that  was  asked  by  the  officer  in 
command  at  the  Dalles,  who  is  supposed  to  be  in  receipt  of  the  ear 
liest  information,  and  most  reliable,  on  account  of  his  proximity  to, 
and  constant  communication  with  the  Snake  river  country,  and  has 
also  signified  his  readiness  to  furnish,  if  called  for,  additional  force. 
Col.  BoGneville  will,  upon  the  slightest  exigency,  furnish  you  with 
information  requiring  your  co-operation,  and,  I  am  sure,  desires,  as 
do  all  the  officers  at  this  post,  a  most  cordial  co-operation  in  every 
necessary  measure,  as  well  for  the  protection  of  immigrants,  as  the 
punishment  of  offenders.  With  this  object,  (a"  mutual  good  under 
standing),  the  Colonel  forwards  this  communication  by  express,  and 
I  am  sure  you  will  appreciate  ?'/,  as  well  as  my  own  humble  interpo 
sition  in  the  matter. 

With  assurances  of  my  highest  regard,  and  a  tender  of  my  very 
poor  services  to  you.  in  any  capacity  in  which  you  may  call  me,  now 
or  hereafter^  I  am,  very  sincerely, 

Your  friend,  and  obd't  serv't, 
JOHN  ADAIR, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY,  Acting  Governor  O.   T. 


[Copt/  of  a  communication  addressed  to  Capt.  T.  L.  Brent ,  A* 
Quar.  M.  U.  S.  JL,  by  Lt.  Co!.  E.  L.  E.  Bonnevilie,  command 
ing  at  Fort  Vancouver,  in  relation  to  additional  troops ,  4fc.] 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  FORT  VANCOUVER,          ) 
September  2Ltf,  1854.    $ 

•Captain: — Yours,  of  this  morning,  is  just  handed  me,  together 
with  that  of  the  Commissary  General,  M.  M,  McCarver.  I  do  not 
feel,  under  the  circumstances,  authorized  to  deprive  this  depot  of  its 
resources.  The  facts  of  the  recent  murders,  &c.,  have  been  re 
ported  to  the  Major  General,  commanding  the  Pacific  Department, 
and  his  instructions  are  expectq-d  every  moment.  The  commanding 
officer  at  Fort  Dalles,  has  been  supplied  with  all  the  force  asked  for, 
with  offers  for  more  if  needed.  He  replies  that  no  more  is  necessary 
at  present.  .  I  suppose  he  means  until  the  wishes  or  plans  of  Gene 
ral  Wool  are  received,  and  of  course,  we  are  expected  to  be  ready 
to  carry  them  out,  the  moment  they  shall  be  made  known  to  us,  re 
taining  all  the  public  resources  for  this  object. 

I  am,  Capt.,  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

B.  L.  E.  BONNEVILLE, 

Lt.  Col.   Commanding. 

To  CAPT  T.  L.  BRENT,  Asst.  Quar.  M.  U.  S.  A. 


TERRITORY  OF  OREGON,  ) 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

Sakm,   Oct.lOth,  1854.    ) 

GEN.  JOEL  PALMER,  Superintendent  Indian  Affair  S,  #c.,  fyc. 

Dear  Sir: — Reports  are  in  very  general  circulation,  highly  pre 
judicial  to  the  character  of  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company's  post,  Fort  Boise — reflecting,  as  they  do,  in  the 
severest  manner  upon  his  conduct,  before  and  since  the  melancholy 
massacre  of  Americans,  near  that  place,  on  the  20th  of  August  last, 
by  the  We-net  Indians. 

If  you  are  in  possession  of  any  information,  or  evidence,  tending 
to  contradict,  or  substantiate  these  reports,  will  you  have  the  kind 
ness  to  apprise  me  of  the  same. 

I  beg  to  enquire  whether  you  have  received  instructions  from  the 
general  government,  in  terms  forbidding  the  Hudson's  Bay- Company 
to  have  trading  establishments  within  the  limits  of  our  Territory, 
and  in  case  of  the  existence  of  any  such,  authorizing  you  to  proceed 


against  them  promptly,  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the 
Intercourse  law  ?     . 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

GEO.  L.  CURRY, 
Acting  Governor  of  Oregon. 


CORVALLIS,  Oct.  22rf,  1854. 

Dear  Sir: — The  enclosed  copy  of  instructions  to  Nathan  Olney, 
who  I  have  appointed  special  Indian  agent,  and  assigned  him  to  duty 
in  the  south-eastern  portion  of  our  territory,  will  indicate  my  action, 
and  serve  in  part  reply  to  your  inquiry.  I  have  not  received  official 
information,  confirmatory,  or  disproving  the  rumors  in  circulation, 
charging  those  in. the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  with 
selling  arms  and  ammunition  to  Indians.  The  only  evidence  I  have, 
was  brought  down  by  emigrants,  and  I  believe  the  substance  of  it 
has  been  published  in  the  "  Standard."  One  young  man  affiirmed 
that  he  heard  the  person  in  charge  at  Fort  Boise,  assert  that  he  had 
sold,  and  would  continue  to  do  so,  ammunition  to  them,  but  I  believe 
this  conversation  took  place  before  the  massacre.  The  only  instruc 
tions  given  me,  in  reference  to  this  company's  trading  establishments, 
was  in  a  letter  from  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  referring 
me  to  the  instructions  given  Gov.  Stevens,  of  Washington  Territory, 
which  you  will  find  published  in  the  volume  of  "  President's  Message, 
with  accompanying  documents,"  of  last  session  of  Congress. 

Application  was  made,  during  the  summer,  to  give  orders  to  pre 
vent  them  from  taking  goods  into  the  interior.  This,  I  conceived, 
we  had  no  right  to  do,  as  by  the  treaty  of  1846,  they  were  secured 
the  right  to  transport  goods  through  the  territory,  and  I  doubt  our 
right  to  interrogate  them  as  to  the  destination  of  their  merchandise, 
but  if  sold  in  the  territory,  they  would  be  amenable  to  our  laws. 

I  have  barely  time,  before  the  mail  closes,  to  say  this  much.  Mr. 
E.  R.  Geary  will  be  at  Salem  during  the  week,  and  will  explain 
further.  It  was  my  intention  to  have  come  by  way  of  Salem,  and 
had  a  personal  interview,  but  the  rain  coming,  and  my  train  having 
started  in  advance,  without  being  properly  guarded  against  wet 
weather,  induced  me  to  follow  the  direct  route. 

I  have  the  honor  to  ba,  dear  sir,  your  obd't  serv't, 

JOEL  PALMER,  Superintendent. 
To  His  Excellency,  GEO.  L.  CURRY, 

Acting  Governor  O.   7\,  Salem. 

P.  S.  I  am  now  on  my  way  to  Rogue  River,  with  a  view  to  ob 
tain  the  assent  of  that  tribe,  and  the  Cow  Creek  band,  to  the  Sen- 


atc-s  amendment  to  their  treaties,  and  at  the  same  time,  taking  out 
their  annuity  goods.  I  expect  also  to  treat  with  other  tribes,  in  the 
southern  portion  of  our  territory,  before  returning. 

J.  P. 


.  OFFICE  SUP'T  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS, 

Dayton,    0.   T.  Sept.  28^,  1854. 

Sir: — My  letter  of  the  25th  instant,  informed  you  of  your  ap 
pointment  as  Special  Agent,  for  the  Indian  tribes  in  Oregon.  I  now 
transmit  you  such  instructions  as  I  deem  important,  to  direct  you 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  your  office  ;  very  much,  however, 
is  confided  to  your  discretion,  and  your  knowledge  of  the  country, 
and  the  Indians  inhabiting  that  region,  will  enable  you  to  act  effi 
ciently. 

Heretofore,  that  part  of  Oregon  lying  east  of  the  Cascade  moun 
tains,  and  south  of  the  44th  parallel  of  latitude,  has  not  been  con 
nected  with  any  particular  district.  Our  limited  knowledge  of  this 
extensive  tract,  and  the  hostile  character  of  its  savage  inhabitants, 
evinced  in  a  long  succession  of  aggressions  on  the  lives  and  property 
of  our  citizens,  render  it  necessary  to  station  an  agent  among  them, 
and  it  is  therefore  assigned  you  as  your  district. 

The  44th  parallel  is  supposed  to  cross  Snake  River  at  or  below 
Fort  Boise,  and  traverse  the  Cascade  mountains  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Snow  Butes,  usually  known  as  the  Three  Sisters. 

Ag't  R.  11.  Thompson,  in  charge  of  the  north-eastern  district, 
will  co-operate  with  you,  in  existing  emergencies,  but  the  duties  of 
his  own  field,  will  not  permit  him  to  remain  long  with  you. 

The  hostile  attitude  of  the  Indians  on  Snake  river,  will,  in  all 
probability,  require  you,  if  it  be  practicable,  to  remain,  during  the 
winter  in  that  vicinity.  You  will  co-operate  with  the  military  force 
now  in  that  country,  and  render  every  aid  in  your  power,  in  virtue 
of  your  office,  to  bring  the  perpetrators  of  the  late  outrages  to  early 
and  condign  punishment.  At  the  same  time,  you  will  spare  no  ef 
forts  to  save  those  Indians,  who  are  known  to  be  well  afi'ected  to  the 
whites,  from  being  involved  in  the  retribution  provoked  by  the  nefa 
rious  deeds  of  the  guilty. 

The  impunity  with  which  these  savages  have,  for  years,  robbed 
and  murdered  defenceless  immigrants,  has,  doubtless,  impressed 
them  with  the  opinion,  that  we  are  weak,  or  indifferent  to  the  wrongs 
inflicted  on  our  citizens,  and  has  rendered  them  more  insolent  and  au 
dacious.  They  will,  therefore,  need  signal  and  terrible  proof  of 
their  mistake  in  this  regard,  and  this  should  by  no  means  fail  to  be 
accomplished.  But,  at  the  same  time,  all  unnecessary  sacrifice  of 
human  life,  should  be  avoided ;  and  to  this  end,  you  will  use  all  pos 
sible  efforts  to  ascertain  and  discriminate  between  hostile  and  friend-, 
ly  bands. 


The  punishment  inflicted,  saould  plainly  appear  to  be  the  dictate 
of  stern  justice,  rather  than  of  revenge.  It  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  we  are  a  civilized  and  Christian  people,  and  they  savage  and  ig 
norant.  Women  and  children  should,  if  possible,  be  saved,  that 
they  may,  at  the  same  time,  be  impressed  with  a  sense  of  our  pow 
er,  and  our  humanity.  When  the  innocent  and  the  guilty  are  pun 
ished  alike,  there  is  no  stimulus  tQ  good  conduct,  but  the  reverse. 

The  season  is  too  far  advanced  to  forward  }rou  any  considerable 
amount,  of  supplies,  or  Indian  -goods,  nor  do  I  suppose  many  will  be 
needed;  as  your  efforts,  during  the  winter,  will  be  directed  to  the 
discovery  and  arrest  of  offenders,  the  establishment  of  friendly  rela 
tions,  and  to  acquiring  such  information  :  ^  the  country,  and 
its  inhabitants,  as  will  be  useful  in  direc;  re  operations. 

The  soil,  climate,  face  of  the  c  streams,  the 

number,  location  and  el  :ud  tribes, 

their  condition,  s  nee,  arid  feelings  towards  the 

whites,  will  In:  -jects  of  inquiry. 

It  is  apprehended  .that  the  cupidity  of  unprincipled  white  persons 
lias  contributed  to  produce  the  present  state  of  affairs,  and  you  will 
be  careful  to  inquire  into  the  grounds  of  such  suspicions,  if  there  be 
any. 

Reports  have  reached  me  that  persons  in  the  sc  he  Hud 

son's  Bay  Company,  at  Fort  Boise,  have,  since  the  late  massacre,, 
furnished  arms  and  ammunition  to  the  Indians,  receiving  in  return? 
money  taken  by  them  from  our  murdered  citizens.  Should  you  have 
good  reason  to  suspect  any  person,  or  persons,  of  such  perfidy,  you 
will  cause  such  to  be  arrested,  and  sent  for  trial,  and  punishment, 
to  the  proper  authorities.  I,  (in  connection  with  this  subject),  sug 
gest  the  propriety  of.  closing  the  doors  of  Fort  Boise,  as  a  trading 
post  of  the  II.  B.  Company.  No  license  has  been  granted  them, 
nor  do  I  think  it  proper  to  grant  license  to  any  one  in  their  service, 
nor  to  any  one  connected  in  the  remotest  way  with  them,  now,  or 
heretofore.  Such  an  indulgence  is  in  violation  of  law,  and  deemed 
dangerous  to  the  peace  and  security  of  our  citizens.  Weak  minded 
and  ignorant  persons  in  that  service,  may,  from  a  mistaken  idea  of 
interest,  or  from  prejudice,  influence  the  Indians  against  our  citizens; 
evidences  are  not  wanting  that  such  attempts  have  heretofore  been 
made. 

Wrongs  also,  in  all  probability,  have  been  inflicted  on  the  Indians, 
by  some  of  our  own  citizens,  who,  reckless  of  their  own  safety,  or 
that  of  others,  commit  acts  that  provoke  savage  vengeance.  When 
in  your  power,  redress  these  wrongs,  and  in  return,  exact  from  the 
Indians,  for  the  injuries  they  inflict,  such  reparation  as  their  conduct 
and  circumstances  may  demand. 

I  contemplate  entering  into  treaties,  during  the  ensuing  season,, 
with  all  the  Indians  in  Oregon,  for  the  purchase  of  the  country,  and 
their  colonization  in  suitable  districts,  where  they  may  be  instructed 
in  the  arts  and  usages  of  civilization ;  and  you  will  accordingly,  in 
your  explorations,  have  an  eye  to  portions  suitable  for  Indian  re- 


serves,  and  report  fully  in  regard  to  them.  It  may  be  deemed  advi 
sable  to  locate  them  in  places  remote  from  the  white  settlements,  and 
the  great  thoroughfares  of  immigration.  Due  regard,  however,  in 
all  cases,  must  be  had  in  selecting  reserves,  to  their  convenience  and 
accessibility,  in  view  of  transporting  their  stipulated  supplies. 

A  recent  visit  to  Klamath  Lake,  and  information  derived  from  In 
dians  in  the  vicinity  of  Toqua  Lake,  and  a  stream  entering  it  from 
the  east,  induce  me  to  consider  that  region  as  affording  a  desirable 
location  for  the  Indians  of  this  and  Urnpqua  valley,  in  addition  to 
the  native  bands.  It  may  also  afford  a  sufficient  extent  of  agricul 
tural  land,  to  warrant  the  gathering  in  the  adjacent  bands  of  the 
Diggers,  living  east  of  the  Klamath  country.  The  altitude  of  this 
region  would  suggest  that  the  winters  might  be  severe,  and  yet  the 
frail  dwellings  of  the  natives,  indicate  a  mild  climate. 

It  is  desirable  that  the  greatest  number  of  bands,  at  all  compati 
ble  with  their  proper  government,  should  be  assembled  on  the  same 
reserve,  that  a  less  number  of  agents,  farmers,  mechanics,  teachers, 
&c.,  may  be  required,  and  thus  the  expense  economised.  — • 

Before  any  permanent  arrangements  are  made,  it  is  important  to 
ascertain,  accurately,  the  number  of  men,  women  and  children,  in 
the  respective  tribes.  This  will  demand  your  early  care,  and  you 
will,  from  time  to  time,  inform  me  of  your  progress,  adding  such 
other  information  as  you  may  judge  useful.  No  enumeration  of  the 
tribes  east  of  the  country  of  the  Klamaths,  has  ever  been  made,  and 
the  estimate  in  my  annual  report,  a  copy  of  which  is  sent  you,  may 
prove  very  erroneous. 

You  will  inform  me,  at  the  earliest  moment,  of  the  state  of 
affairs  in  your  district,  and  set  forth  the  kind  and  quantity  of  sup 
plies  needed,  to  enable  you  to  a^t  efficiently  and  promptly. 

A  blank  form  of  bond,  which  you  will  cause  to  be  filled  up  and 
signed,  is  herewith  enclosed,  and  should  there  be  no  Territorial  offi 
cer  authorized  to  administer  the  oath  of  office,  at  hand,  Agent 
Thompson  will  administer  it.  You  will  then  transmit  it  to  Judge 
Olney,  for  his  certificate  of  the  sufficiency  of  the  security,  with  di 
rections  to  have  it  forwarded  to  this  ofiice. 

A  copy  of  the  Laws  and  Regulations  of  the  Indian  Bureau  will  be 
sent  you.  JOEL  PALMER, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 


